Ben Arnold was born on 19 July 1942 in Johannesburg. Arnold attended school in Albertville, Newclare and Coronationville. In 1957 he studied under Cecil Skotnes at Poly Street Art Center and later was a pupil of Sydney Kumalo. From 1961 to 1968 he was an assistant an teacher at Jubilee Art Center. From 1966 to 1968 he taught sculpture at Dube Art Project Zenzele, a centre for children in Soweto.

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In 1972 he taught Art at AMDA, Bosmont Recreation Centre. From 1980 to 1982 and from 1985 to the present, he has taught sculpture at local art schools and has studio at the Bag Factory.